Millbury cancels casino referendum

Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday to cancel the townwide referendum that had been scheduled for Sept. 24 on a host community agreement with Mass Gaming & Entertainment for a slots casino.

The motion was read by Selectman Brian M. Ashmankas, the sole selectman who had not signed the host community agreement, who also serves as campaign director of a group attempting to pass an initiative petition to repeal the state expanded gaming law.

Town Manager Robert J. Spain Jr. said that representatives of Mass Gaming & Entertainment, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, notified him Friday of their intent to terminate the agreement signed with the town July 23.

"Because of that withdrawal, and they officially withdrew their application in front of the Planning Board, because of that at this time we believe it's not prudent to hold the election," Mr. Spain said.

Although some absentee ballots had already been cast, after consulting with lawyers and the secretary of state's office, Mr. Spain said the town could legally cancel the election.

Town Clerk Jayne Davolio said she would destroy the ballots and post a warrant notifying residents about the cancellation.

An impact study undertaken for the town by Pro Forma Advisors was halted immediately after the applicant withdrew the proposal, Mr. Spain said. They had incurred roughly $21,000 worth of work, which will be paid for under the $50,000 already allocated to the town by the developer.

"Even though they pulled out, there's still no cost to the town," Mr. Spain said.

Any other town costs related to the casino proposal, including legal fees, will also be paid for by Mass Gaming & Entertainment.

Mr. Spain said, "In that short period of time we blew through 50 grand like that; 30 of that in legal fees."

Related to Mass Gaming & Entertainment's withdrawal, Department of Public Works Director Robert D. McNeil III told selectmen that town and state engineers would start looking again at the design phase for improvements to McCracken Road, where the casino would have been located, at the end of the month.

"We were hoping to get two-thirds of that project by our friends from Chicago," Mr. McNeil said.